Federal Contracting Glossary
Sources Sought Notice
A pre-solicitation notice posted to identify capable sources and gauge small-business interest before an agency decides how to compete a requirement.
Definition
A Sources Sought notice is a market-research notice an agency posts on SAM.gov to identify potential sources and assess the capabilities of the vendor community — particularly small businesses — before issuing a solicitation. Responses help the agency decide whether to set the requirement aside, which NAICS code and size standard apply, and how to structure the eventual competition.
A Sources Sought notice is not a solicitation and is not a commitment to buy; the agency may change the scope or cancel. Treat it as early intelligence: track relevant notices, respond with a focused capability statement, and engage the contracting office so your firm is counted when the "rule of two" set-aside analysis is performed.
How this affects your proposal
Responding to a Sources Sought notice can directly shape the set-aside decision in your favor — capable small-business responses are exactly what the contracting officer needs to justify a set-aside under the rule of two.
Common questions about sources sought notice
How far ahead are Sources Sought notices posted?
Typically weeks to several months before the solicitation, depending on the acquisition's complexity. Major programs may begin market research a year or more in advance.
Does every acquisition have a Sources Sought notice?
No. It is a discretionary market-research tool. Many routine or commercial buys move straight to a solicitation, while larger or set-aside-eligible requirements often start here.
Related terms
Request for Information (RFI)
A pre-solicitation request asking industry for capability and market information to hel…
SAM.gov
The U.S. federal government's official system for contract opportunities and entity reg…
Request for Proposal (RFP)
The formal solicitation an agency issues inviting proposals in a negotiated procurement…
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